ML19057A131

Update on NRC Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) Activities, February 2019

ML19057A131
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/26/2019
From:	Proffitt J NRC/NRR/DLP/PLPB
To:
Proffitt J
References
Download: ML19057A131 (10)

Text

NRC Preparations to License Accident Tolerant Fuel Andrew Proffitt February, 2019

Agenda I. ATF Project Plan implementation II. Cr-coated cladding PIRT/ISG III. Upcoming NRC meetings on ATF 2

I. ATF Project Plan Implementation

• NRCs ATF Project Plan issued in September 2018 (ML18261A414)

• Heightened stakeholder engagement

- Fuel vendors

- Public

- DOE

- Industry

• Actively modifying NRC analysis capability to model near-term ATF concepts 3

Draft ATF Regulatory Issue Summary Issued

• Pre-application Communication and Scheduling for Accident Tolerant Fuel Submittals (ML18270A019)

• Inform budget and resource planning

- Scheduling

- Necessary knowledge and skillsets

• Begin addressing questions with NRC staff today

• Responses are voluntary 4

Confirmatory Tool Updates

• Identifying data gaps / code updates needed to support near-term ATF concepts

• Near-term focus:

- Doped fuels

- Coated claddings

- FeCrAl

- Phase 1 (~67 GWd/mtU) burnup extension

• Completed activities:

- Material library updates (available data)

- Oxidation kinetics for FeCrAl

- Assessment on doped fuel behavior

• Engaged with fuel vendors and DOE/CASL on ATF modeling efforts and plans 5

II. Chrome Coated Cladding

• Initiated phenomena identification and ranking (PIRT) exercise for chrome coated zirconium alloy cladding

• Preliminary report available in ADAMS (ML19036A716)

• Provided to experts in advance of panel discussions

• PIRT panel to be held at PNNL April 23-25, 2019 6

Preliminary Cr-Coated PIRT Report

• Overview of coating concepts and techniques

• Cr-Zr Phase Diagram

• Potential changes to Safety Analysis Codes, Methods and Safety Limits

- Cladding base material property correlations + impacts

- Impact of coating on SAFDLs

- Changes to existing codes and methodologies

• Current publicly available data

- In-reactor

- Ex-reactor

- Data gaps and performance concerns 7

Developing Interim Staff Guidance for Predictable and Efficient Reviews

• NRR Office Instruction on Interim Staff Guidance (ISG):

Purpose:

Provide temporary guidance to staff until more durable guidance is incorporated into established NRC regulatory processes

• Useful in facilitating expedited resolution of emerging technical or licensing issues

• Provide staff guidance concerning issues not currently addressed within established NRC regulatory processes

• PIRT results will be used to develop ISG that supplements standard review plan (SRP) chapters 4.2 and 15 (as necessary)

• Provide guidance to both staff and industry:

- Industry: Understand staff expectations for submittals

- Staff: Supplement the standard review plan with concept specific review criteria 8

Cr-Coated Cladding PIRT/ISG Timeline

• April 2019: PIRT panel

• July 2019: Final PIRT report

• July 2019: Initial draft ISG publicly available

• August 2019: Public meeting on initial draft ISG

• September 2019: Potential ACRS subcommittee meeting on draft ISG

• September 2019: ISG published in Federal Register for public comment

• December 2019: Public meeting to discuss resolution of comments

• December 2019: Final issuance of ISG 9

III. Upcoming NRC ATF Meetings

• Public portion at beginning of all vendor meetings

- February 27, 2019: GNF

- February 27-28, 2019: Framatome

- February 28, 2019: Westinghouse

• March 14, 2019 - RIC Session

- Accident Tolerant Fuels: Preparations to License

- Panelists: DOE, NEA, NEI, & NRC

• April 23-25, 2019 - Cr-coated PIRT Panel

- Richland, WA (PNNL)

- meeting notice

• July 2019 - Public meeting on Cr-coated interim staff guidance

- Initial draft to be made available prior to meeting 10